GRAND CENTRAL RECOGNITION

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: november 2007 :: RMTnews 5 R MT along with the other rail unions successfully negotiated a recognition agreement with Grand Central Railways. Grand Central Railways was given the go ahead earlier this year to run services on the East Coast Mainline that would “compete” with GNER. Grand Central is not a full train operating company but is operating under EU rules which demand ‘open access’ to rail routes. It remains uncertain when the new services will actually start but the company has acquired and tested sufficient quantities of rolling stock that could be operating “quite soon”. Grand Central will operate on the Durham Coast route, serving Sunderland, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe and Thirsk and will have direct trains to London as well as direct links to York. General secretary Bob Crow placed on record the union’s appreciation of the efforts made by RMT’s negotiating team. H eathrow Express, the non- stop rail service between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport, and RMT have signed a trade union recognition agreement. The agreement recognises RMT for consultation and negotiation. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that the agreement marked a huge and positive step forward. “This allows us to get on with the business of negotiating on behalf of RMT’s growing membership at Heathrow Express. “I would like to place on record my thanks to all those who have helped in getting us where we are today, not least our Heathrow Express members themselves,” he said. Managing Director of Heathrow Express Brian Raven said that the decision to recognise RMT ensured the integrity of the company’s union representation process. “As a growing number of Heathrow Express employees are RMT members, this demonstrates our commitment to ensuring appropriate representation,” he said. GRAND CENTRAL RECOGNITION HEATHROW EXPRESS AND RMT SIGN RECOGNITION AGREEMENT